'Millionaire Killed by His Adviser Who Siphoned off [Pounds Sterling]340,000'; 'Killer's [Pounds Sterling]19k Bill for Night at Spearmint Rhino Club'

Article excerpt

A MAYFAIR socialite was battered to death by his financial adviser who had plundered his wealth to spend on ecstasy, cocaine, cars and holidays, a court heard today.

David Jeffs, 36, took advantage of flamboyant millionaire Roberto Troyan for more than two years, the jury was told.

Jeffs spent [pounds sterling]19,500 in a single night at a Spearmint Rhino club and [pounds sterling]1,150 on a night at Chinawhite. He also paid [pounds sterling]72,500 on two Lotus cars, a court was told.

But after stealing [pounds sterling]343,000, Jeffs feared he was about to be found out and murdered Mr Troyan in his Mount Street flat, it is alleged.

The body was found by a cleaner in a pool of blood in the kitchen.

Mr Troyan, 63, had inherited a fortune from his gay lover, the architect and interior designer Anthony Feldman.

They became civil partners in 2005, the jury at Croydon crown court was told. Mr Feldman died soon afterwards and Mr Troyan's chaotic lifestyle ensured his finances were in a mess which left him open to exploitation.

Mr Troyan had "a somewhat unusual lifestyle" involving gay lovers and drink and drugs, the court heard. Prosecutor Edward Brown, QC, said: "He was a generous man but he was taken advantage of.

"He would entertain people at his home. He had a number of sexual partners and those who supplied drugs, cocaine for example." In 2008 he was introduced to Jeffs, a financial adviser who had worked for HFM Columbus, a partnership of financial and wealth management firms. In March this year, Jeffs beat his victim over the head leaving him with a fractured skull and other injuries, it is claimed.

Mr Brown said: "Jeffs took advantage of a frail and vulnerable man for his own gain over a long period.

"As a result he was able to live the high life but all at the expense of the deceased who, when Jeffs first met him, was a rich man. He died less rich by hundreds of thousands of pounds thanks to Jeffs' dishonesty.

"When the life to which Jeffs happily had become accustomed appeared to him to be about to come to a sudden end and there was a real possibility that his callous acts would soon be found out, he killed him. …